From Honduras to Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, Belmont students spent Spring Break learning, serving and growing alongside long-standing global partners
The clinic had already been full for hours when a woman stepped forward with a simple request: would someone pray with her?
For Belmont students still early in their clinical training, the moment brought everything into focus. They paused what they were doing, gathered around her and formed a circle of prayer in the middle of a busy clinic in Honduras.
It was one of many moments during Belmont’s Spring Break global missions this year where students made the connection about how care extends beyond medical treatment and that the most meaningful work often happens in partnership, presence and humility.
During Spring Break, Belmont students participated in global missions across Honduras, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, India and Costa Rica, partnering with organizations and communities engaged in ongoing, meaningful work. Rather than stepping into unfamiliar spaces to lead, students joined long-standing efforts — learning from and working alongside trusted global partners.
“Spring Break missions give students the opportunity to see and experience God’s work in a way that is deeply personal and transformative,” said Shelby Garner, executive director of global health innovation for Belmont Global. “As they serve alongside trusted partners, they learn that mission is not about coming in with all the answers, but about showing up with humility, compassion and a heart ready to learn.”
Learning to Care Together in Honduras
In Honduras, students from Belmont’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences served in community and mobile clinics, helping provide care to more than 400 patients.
Working alongside partners including Jóvenes en Camino and the Baxter Institute, students participated in interprofessional care teams —collaborating across pharmacy, physical therapy and occupational therapy to assess patients, support treatment plans and provide access to medications.
For many, it was their first time experiencing what it means to care for patients in a real-world setting. One student described a moment that captured the impact of the week: after providing care, a patient simply shook their hand and said thank you. It was a small gesture, but one that left a lasting impression.
The experience also highlighted the importance of collaboration across disciplines, as students worked together across specialties to provide more holistic, patient-centered care.
Beyond clinical learning, the week challenged students to think differently about health care access and equity. Many encountered patients who had walked long distances or waited hours for care, often without access to ongoing treatment or medication.
“One of the most impactful moments for me was when we visited the public hospital and passed out food and water,” said Bri Clift, a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy student. “It was such a small thing in the grand scale of what all these families were dealing with and yet you could tell the act of kindness meant so much to them.”
By the end of the mission, students returned home not only with new clinical skills, but with a deeper sense of empathy, purpose and calling.
Building Relationships That Last in the Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, a team of Belmont students partnered with Casas por Cristo to construct a home for a local family — completing the project in less than four days.
Among the group were architecture students who brought their academic training into the field, contributing to every stage of the build, from framing to finishing. For students and leaders, what made the mission especially meaningful was not just the work completed, but the relationships strengthened over time.
Many students and leaders had returned to serve in the same community they had worked with in previous years, coming alongside the same local partners and reconnecting with families and church leaders.
This was the third consecutive year for architecture student Sidney Roberston to participate in the trip to Casas por Cristo.
“With every passing year, I see a growth of love and community in the people we serve, causing a deep appreciation to work alongside them and my fellow students,” Robertson said. “This year, as a student leader, it causes an overwhelming since of pride to call Belmont my home and the students my friends.”
These repeated experiences reflected a deeper commitment to global engagement — rooted in consistency, trust and shared purpose.
The Power of Presence in Guatemala
In Guatemala, students from Belmont’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and School of Nursing partnered with local organizations to participate in community clinics, home visits and wellness care.
Working alongside Guatemalan health care providers, ministry leaders and interpreters, students contributed to ongoing efforts already established within the community, providing health screenings, delivering water filters, fitting wheelchairs and offering patient education.
The experience emphasized not only clinical skills, but cultural humility and collaboration.
“Many families we met don’t have easy access to doctors, so even small acts of care meant a lot,” reflected nursing student Maisie Macholz. “It reminded me how grateful I am for the health care we have and why I want to be a nurse to serve people with love and compassion.”
Students learned to adapt, to listen and to rely on teamwork –– often working across disciplines and languages to provide care and, in doing so, gaining a deeper understanding of how health care is shaped by access and culture.
Connection Across Cultures
In Costa Rica, students engaged in community-centered experiences that focused on building relationships with local families, children and church communities.
Through time spent in schools, neighborhoods and shared gatherings, students formed meaningful connections that transcended language and cultural differences. Whether playing games with children, participating in worship or simply spending time together, these moments of connection became central to the experience.
"Being able to connect with both children and adults and experience such overwhelming, mutual love made a lasting impact on my heart and deepened my understanding of what true community looks like," shared exercise science student Sofia Cancio. "We were welcomed with such genuine warmth that it immediately felt like we belonged."
Across every location, the lesson was consistent: meaningful impact begins with presence, humility and a willingness to learn from others.
A planned mission to India for the psychology and neuroscience programs was cut short due to unforeseen travel developments. Thanks to the leadership, faith and flexibility of the team, the faculty and students involved look forward to revisiting the mission later this year.
Throughout each mission, students and global partners worked hard to make a difference, fueled by the same commitment to partnership and purpose.
Learn More
Explore the missions in this story